Day 5-8: Amsterdam and Leiden | Netherlands
The journey of our 20 days Europe trip continued and the second country we visited a was Netherlands and the third city was Amsterdam one of the amazing city we visited. You can check the previous article to follow us from the beginning of the trip.
The three hours journey started nearly around midday from Brussels in a Bus towards Amsterdam. One of the good things was that there was free WiFi on the bus and I was constantly checking the map to see when I would enter Netherland apart from listening to music. I could see the border approaching in the map and I took a look outside there was no walls or anything as far as I could see. I thought to myself who have seen many walls to mark the boundaries that this is how the world should have been. Sorry for going out of topic but yes this was something beautiful thing that I observed.
You will know that you are inside Netherlands once you start seeing windmills and canals all around. After three hours of journey, we finally arrived in Amsterdam. It was 2 PM in the afternoon and we had to take a train to reach our hostel. We got ourselves ticket but it was for the wrong station. Then we had to change the tickets for correct station. On the ticket, it was printed that all their transports run on renewable energy, also the reason why I did not mind to pay the price even though I felt it bit more expensive. The arrival day was just to reach our hostel and relax. Though in evening we went out to have dinner and see places around.
The alarm rang for next day and the weather forecast was cloudy but that would not stop us from exploring Amsterdam. We got to freshen up and with warm cloth headed out to the main city area. After we arrived at our destination and got out of the metro station, the camera came out of my pocket as if subconsciously. The place was mesmerising as if it was an art.
Netherlands is known for legalizing marijuana in coffee shops or growing at your home, red light area and legal same-sex marriages apart from its beauty. Cannabis is banned in most another part of the world even though recently some have started to legalise it but you will find Amsterdam one of the peaceful city. More bicycles than cars on the road and friendly peoples.
Back to our trip, we took the map of the city that we got from our hostel and started going around. I would recommend walking as you can admire the beauty of the city at each and every step. Here are few things which we did:
• Dam Square
• Anne Frank House
• Red light area
• Ice bar
• Heineken Experience
• Rijksmuseum (I Amsterdam)
• Oude Kerk
Before I get any comment about not justifying places to visit let me say this. Places we visited were mostly free and we also had limited time. You have lots of other places and things to do, don't limit yourself!!! The first day came to end after we met our friend from Bhutan and with ad-hoc plan to go to Ice Bar (Plus we got a ticket to Heineken Experience in combined offer).
Next day and our final time started with visiting Rijksmuseum, just to take picture in-front of I AMSTERDAM symbol. Even in such freezing cold lots of people were posing to get their perfect shot. After struggling to get few clips we headed towards Heineken Experience and guess what, it was worth. They take you through the history with all images, videos, sponsorships and finally give you to taste some.
At around midday, we finished our list of things to do. So we contacted our friend and moved straight to Leiden, another beautiful city and ad-hoc plan. The train ticket was 18€ for two ways and we were greeted by our friend in the train station. He took us around the city, a small and beautiful city. It was really amazing and I could think the whole country was beautiful. We also got free dinner and live music from him at his place.
At around Mid Night, we started from Leiden back to Amsterdam and by the time we arrived the Metro was closed. We found out that Metro closes at Midnight and we did not know the route to our hostel via other means. So we figured out that there is late night bus but stations were unknown to us and it was around 1 AM. So we just figured out bus stand near to our hostel and was still 30mins walk. We got a ticket from the bus driver, moved to this unknown place and we made sure that we do not fall asleep in the bus. At the end, we went to one station further away from one we should have got off. We had to walk another 40min to reach our hostel. To top our walk it started snowing, I cannot describe my feeling at that moment. After we reach our hostel we set alarm (multiple alarms) and went to bed.
Next day we got up, took breakfast in a nearby restaurant, buy some food to eat on the way and rush to the bus station. Our new adventure awaited us it was to Cologne in Germany.
NOTE: We don't encourage drinking or smoking. It can be injurious to health.
NOTE: We don't encourage drinking or smoking. It can be injurious to health.
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